Breast Lift in Sacramento

Benefits of a Breast Lift

A breast lift can do more than restore a youthful breast position — it can also restore your confidence in how you look and feel in your clothes.

Some of the key benefits of this procedure include:

• A lifted, rejuvenated breast contour. Sagging breast tissue and downward-pointing nipples are repositioned to a higher, perkier location on the chest, creating a more youthful silhouette.
• Improved symmetry. It's common for one breast to sag more than the other. During a breast lift, Dr. Davis addresses asymmetry so that both breasts look more balanced and proportional.
• Resized areolas. Over time, the areolas can stretch and enlarge. During the procedure, areolas can be reduced to a size that's in proportion with the newly lifted breast.
• Better fit in clothing and swimwear. Many women find that bras, swimsuits and fitted tops fit the way they're supposed to again, without gaps, slipping straps or the need for heavy padding.
• Long-lasting results. While the natural aging process continues, a breast lift provides lasting improvement that women can enjoy for many years, especially with a stable weight.

Who's a Candidate for a Breast Lift?

The best candidates for a breast lift are women who are bothered by sagging or drooping breasts and are in good overall health. During your consultation, Dr. Davis will evaluate the degree of ptosis (sagging) and discuss whether a lift alone or a combined procedure will get you the result you're looking for.

You may be a good candidate if you:

• Have experienced breast drooping after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Changes in breast volume and skin elasticity during and after pregnancy are among the most common reasons women seek a breast lift.
• Have noticed changes after significant weight loss. Losing a substantial amount of weight can leave the breasts deflated and sagging. A lift restores shape and position.
• Are bothered by age-related changes. Skin loses elasticity over time, and gravity takes its toll. A breast lift addresses these natural changes.
• Have realistic expectations. A breast lift is not a substitute for breast augmentation and will not add volume. Understanding the difference between a lift, implants and a combined approach is an important part of the consultation process.
• Are at or near a stable weight. Significant weight fluctuations after breast lift surgery can affect your results, so Dr. Davis encourages his patients to be at a healthy, stable weight before moving forward.
• Are finished with or not planning future pregnancies. While a breast lift won't prevent you from becoming pregnant again, future pregnancies can alter the results. For this reason, many women choose to wait until their family is complete before scheduling the procedure.

Your Breast Lift Consultation

During your breast lift consultation, Dr. Davis will assess the degree of sagging as well as the volume and symmetry of both breasts and take measurements. He will then provide his recommendations to get you the outcome you are looking for and walk you through the process so you can feel informed and comfortable before making a decision. The consultation provides the perfect opportunity to share your goals so that you know if a breast lift is right for you, or if you would be happier with a lift with implants or a breast reduction.

The Procedure

Prior to going into surgery, Dr. Davis will measure and mark your breasts for the lift. These markings serve as a guide in surgery to ensure the best possible shape and symmetry. Using incisions that result in either the "lollipop" or "anchor" scar patterns, the excess skin of the breasts is removed and reshaped and the breast tissue is lifted and suspended to achieve a perkier shape. The size of the areola is also reduced to keep it in proportion with the breast. The surgery takes around 2 to 3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia.

Breast Lift Recovery

After surgery, you will be placed in a supportive bra and will return to the office the next day for us to check on you. We will continue to check on you as you recover and are, of course, here and available any day if you have any questions or concerns.

Recovery from a breast lift is quite rapid. You'll feel sore for a few days, but should start to feel more like yourself within a week. Changes in nipple sensitivity after surgery are common and often return to normal in a few months. Scars are the most noticeable around 6 weeks and then will begin to fade. After the first week, you can gradually increase your activity level, and strenuous exercise can resume at 6 weeks.

Breast Lift Results

Results are visible almost immediately after your breast lift, and you should be able to notice your breasts sitting higher and your nipples repositioned to a more youthful, forward-facing location. That said, swelling in the first few weeks will affect how your results look early on, and your breasts will feel firmer than they ultimately will once they've fully healed.

As swelling subsides over the first couple of weeks, your breasts will begin to soften and settle into a more natural shape. Most women feel comfortable showing off their results in fitted clothing or a swimsuit by the 4- to 6-week mark.

By 6 to 12 months post-surgery, your breasts should have fully settled and scars will have matured considerably.

Maintaining a stable weight and wearing a supportive bra consistently during recovery will help to preserve your results long-term. If you have questions about what to expect at any stage of the healing process, don't hesitate to contact our office.